2028 Los Angeles Olympics ticket sales set to kick off

The first phase of ticket sales for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games is set to begin this week, as the LA28 organizing committee advances preparations for the international sporting event.

A presale window will open from April 2 to April 6, initially targeting residents in Southern California and parts of Oklahoma, according to LA28 organizers. The early-access phase is intended to engage local communities while managing strong demand.

More than 5 million people from 197 countries and regions have registered their interest in purchasing tickets, reflecting broad global attention to the Games. Organizers said up to 14 million tickets will be made available, which could set a new Olympic record for ticket distribution.

The ticketing process will use a lottery system, with eligible participants assigned time slots to complete purchases. Notifications are being sent on a rolling basis, and selected buyers will have a 48-hour window to access the platform. Once tickets are placed in a shopping cart, purchasers will have 30 minutes to finalize their transactions.

Officials said the system is designed to manage demand and ensure an orderly purchasing process. Each buyer will be permitted to purchase up to 12 tickets across Olympic events, including a limit of four tickets for high-demand ceremonies such as the opening and closing events.

Ticket pricing has been structured to cover a wide range of audiences. Approximately 1 million tickets will be available starting at $28, while more than 75 percent of tickets are expected to be priced below $400. Nearly half will be under $200. Around 5 percent of tickets are expected to exceed $1,000, typically for high-demand events such as finals in gymnastics, athletics and swimming, as well as the opening ceremony.

Organizers said dynamic pricing, which adjusts prices based on demand, will not be used during the initial sales phase, though it may be considered in later stages.

Tickets for all events will be included in the first release, although not all available inventory will be offered at once. Additional tickets for popular events may be released in subsequent sales windows as part of a phased distribution approach.

The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place from July 14 to July 30, 2028, marking the third time Los Angeles has hosted the event, with previous Games held in 1984 and 1932. The 2028 Summer Paralympics will run from Aug 15 to Aug 27, with ticket sales for Paralympic events expected to begin in 2027.

Organizers said tickets will initially be sold by category, with specific seat assignments determined closer to the Games, in line with standard ticketing practices.

renali@chinadailyusa.com